QUEBEC -- High-ranking officials from some 20 countries will be in Quebec City today to discuss various aspects of the fight against Islamic State militants.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson will attend the closed-door meeting, which will be co-presided by Canada, the United States and Iraq.

European Union and United Nations officials are also expected to attend, as is retired U.S. general John Allen, U.S. President Barack Obama's envoy in the anti-ISIL coalition.

The international coalition has stepped up its campaign against ISIL with the involvement of Turkey, which last week began striking targets in Syria and agreed to allow the United States to launch its own strikes from Turkey's strategically located Incirlik Air Base.